Budget planners don't need to be complicated -- in fact, they should be more about behaviors than rules. or allowances.

"If only I could get myself to use a reliable budget planner, my money problems would be solved!"

Raise your hand if you've said, thought, or heard this general idea from someone before.

Though I doubt you actually raised your hand, I bet a memory flashed into your head of a time or place where you've encountered this thinking.

To be clear, budget planners certainly work for some portion of society. For those people, you can stop reading now. This article is for the rest of us who think budgeting is more of a hassle and a reminder of sacrifice than as a tool for financial freedom. For some, they are constant reminders of what we're giving up.

But there are other, far simpler, more effective and emotionally positive ways to help bring your spending to a healthy level. Read on to find out three different strategies, and how they can be good not only for your wallet, but your mind and heart as well. Plus, they're far easier to follow through on and there's almost no paperwork involved.

Author

Brian Stoffel has been a Fool since 2008, and a financial journalist for the Motley Fool since 2010. He tends to follow the investment strategies of Fool-founder David Gardner, looking for the most innovative companies driving positive change for the future. Follow @TMFStoffel